Live report MASTODON & LOATHE, Docks, Hamburg – June 22nd, 2026

On a hot summer’s day in June, the sun slowly sets and the temperature drops as fans line up outside Docks in Hamburg. One of the most influential progressive metal bands is in town tonight. Atlanta-based Mastodon are currently touring Europe, playing some of the biggest festivals. In between, the itinerary includes some headliner shows, and tonight is one of those moments.

Mastodon play club shows in Europe, but these occasions are few and far between. If I remember correctly, the last time the band played a headliner show in Hamburg was in 2019.

Supporting Mastodon tonight are Loathe. The Liverpool band are set to take the stage at 20:00, and their metalcore-based music, combined with progressive elements, is a perfect fit for the main act. Loathe play for 40 minutes, focusing on their 2020 album “I Left It In and It Took Everything”. The start of tonight’s show reflects the band’s more recent output. “Gifted Every Strength” is from 2025 and marks a furious start to this night of faceted metal, presented with vigour and aggressiveness. Later in the set, they present a new song, “Revenant”, the lead single from the upcoming album. Loathe’s sound is characterised by heavy djent riffs, switching from hoarse screams to clean vocals and atmospheric sound collages, and they handle all of these elements well in a live setup.

The fans are enthusiastic about what Loathe offer them and have started some circle pits. Waving hands and big applause are clear signs that Loathe delivered a great set.

The 30-minute changeover gives everyone a chance to get a beer which is needed on such a hot summer day. As soon as the lights go out and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” fills the hall, everyone knows it’s showtime.

The band uses a digital backdrop, and the band’s name shines brightly when they enter the stage. Mastodon start their set with “Tread Lightly” and the vibe at Docks turns from excited to enthusiastic. The fans get especially loud in between songs, enjoying each one to the full.

Troy Sanders mentioned that the band is working on a new album, which is great news, and they have already unveiled a song from it. “Your Ghost Again” is the title of a tune that is multifaceted yet also easy to relate to. Fans reacted very positively to the song and the announcement of a new album. In addition, Mastodon dedicates the song to Brent Hinds, one of the band’s founding members who passed away in 2025.

Nick Johnston is the new guitarist and gets his spotlight moment, but it’s Sanders, Dailor and Kelliher who form the core of the band. With João Nogueira, the band also has a keyboardist with them, which adds to the density of tonight’s live set.

Mastodon have created a setlist that provides a balanced overview of the band’s musical output. With songs like “I Am Ahab” from the iconic “Leviathan”, the band revisits its early days, and the fans really appreciate the classics. The same goes for the furious “Megalodon”, which leads to a lot of activity in the pit.

Mastodon showed why they are one of the best progressive metal bands around today. Musical finesse, a well-designed light show and excellent sound quality all contributed to an enjoyable evening for everyone, and hopefully it won’t take another seven years before the five-piece band from Atlanta returns to Hamburg.

Location: Docks , Hamburg, Germany

Date: June 22nd, 2026